Jasper ducked them both into an alley. “Hold on.”
She gulped as the car slowly made its way past them.
“There he is,” Jasper said. “Come on.” He clasped her hand and rushed toward the town car, yanking the back door open and jumping inside, pulling her along.
“Who do you think you are?” George pivoted toward them.
“Shut up.” Jasper punched him in the face.
“Hey.” The driver hit the brakes and partially turned.
Jasper grabbed George by the neck and sank his fingers into the guy’s throat.
George clawed at Jasper’s hand, his eyes bugging out and legs kicking the back of the driver’s seat.
“I suggest you drive, buddy,” Jasper said, “or I’m going to rip his throat right out.”
Leah inhaled sharply. She’d never seen this side of him.
“Drive,” George croaked. “Drive.”
The driver turned back around and followed traffic, casting worried glances in the rearview mirror.
Leah thought about asking if he had a weapon, but he obviously didn’t, or he would have used it.
“Turn right,” Jasper ordered.
The driver turned right into a narrow alley.
“Keep going, or I will kill him.” Jasper’s voice remained hard and sure.
Leah shivered. George finished struggling and just sat there, tears streaming down his face.
“Keep going until I tell you to stop,” Jasper said, almost sounding bored. The driver crossed several busy streets until they came to a quieter area.
“Pull into that parking lot right there.” Jasper nodded toward a small, boarded-up bed and breakfast that had seen better days. The driver did as he was told. “Keep your hands on the steering wheel,” Jasper said, “and cut the engine.”
The driver twisted the key. “Listen, I don’t want any trouble.”
“You won’t get any.” With his free hand, Jasper made a fist, leaned forward, and punched the driver in the temple. The guy’s head rocked twice, and then he sank against the window.
“Jasper!” Leah exclaimed.
“He’ll be okay,” Jasper said. “He might be out for a while and will have a headache, but he’ll live. On the other hand, George probably won’t.” He looked at the man and then slowly retracted his fingers.
George held his throat and sucked in heavy breaths. His wild gaze swung to Leah. “I told you I would send you the address.”
“I want it now,” she said.
“Fine.” Casting a worried glance at Jasper, he rattled off an address not too far away.
“Who’s there on guard, and are they armed?” Jasper asked. “Don’t lie to me, or I’ll break your neck.”
George paled. “I have two men there, and one is armed.” George looked at his wristwatch. “If I’m not at the warehouse in twenty minutes, they have instructions to destroy the merchandise.”
Leah gagged. “Are you serious? How?”
“Doesn’t matter,” Jasper said. He leaned over George and opened his door, pulling him out before opening the front door and letting the driver fall to the ground. Leah hopped out and ran around to try to assist the poor driver into a better position.
